Daniel 1
1. In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came * Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged * it.
2. And the Lord gave * Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried * into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought * the vessels into the treasure house of his god.
3. And the king spake * unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring * certain of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes;
4. Children in whom was no blemish * , but well favoured, and skilful * in all wisdom, and cunning * in knowledge, and understanding * science, and such as had ability in them to stand * in the king's palace, and whom they might teach * the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.
5. And the king appointed * them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing * them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand * before the king.
6. Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:
7. Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave * names: for he gave * unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.
8. But Daniel purposed * in his heart that he would not defile * himself with the portion * of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested * of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile * himself.
9. Now God had brought * Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.
10. And the prince of the eunuchs said * unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed * your meat and your drink: for why should he see * your faces worse liking * than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger * my head to the king.
11. Then said * Daniel to Melzar,whom the prince of the eunuchs had set * over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael,and Azariah,
12. Prove * thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give * us pulse to eat * , and water to drink * .
13. Then let our countenances be looked upon * before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat * of the portion * of the king's meat: and as thou seest * , deal * with thy servants.
14. So he consented * to them in this matter, and proved * them ten days.
15. And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared * fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat * the portion * of the king's meat.
16. Thus Melzar took away * the portion * of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave * them pulse.
17. As for these four children, God gave * them knowledge and skill * in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding * in all visions and dreams.
18. Now at the end of the days that the king had said * he should bring * them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought * them in before Nebuchadnezzar.
19. And the king communed * with them; and among them all was found * none like Daniel,Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood * they before the king.
20. And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired * of them, he found * them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.
21. And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.
